Judges 13:25 · Bible study
Judges 13:25 Commentary: The Spirit Begins to Stir Samson
Hebrew · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Explore the meaning of the Spirit 'moving' Samson (Hebrew pa'am), and how this initial stirring between Zorah and Eshtaol launches his deliverer role.
Research Summary
- Meaning: The Spirit of Yahweh begins to impel Samson toward his deliverer role in his home territory.
- Key words: pa'am (to thrust, impel); Mahaneh Dan (camp of Dan) as a local landmark.
- Main debate: Whether the Spirit's movement is primarily internal (moral conviction) or external (supernatural strength).
- Theological theme: The Spirit's preparatory and empowering presence for vocation and service.
- Best use: Preaching on the inception of calling, the Spirit's stirring in ordinary settings, and God's long preparation of leaders.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
And the Spirit of the LORD began to stir him at Mahaneh-dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Yahweh’s Spirit began to move him in Mahaneh Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.
KJV King James Version 1769
And the Spirit of the Lord began to move him at times in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And the Spirit of Jehovah began to move him in Mahaneh-dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
and the Spirit of Jehovah beginneth to move him in the camp of Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And the Spirit of Jehovah began to move him at Mahaneh-Dan, between Zoreah and Eshtaol.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And the Spirit of the Lord began to be with him in the camp of Dan, between Saraa and Esthaol.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y el espíritu de Jehová comenzó á manifestarse en él en los campamentos de Dan, entre Sora y Esthaol.
E o espírito do SENHOR começou a manifestar-se nele nos acampamentos de Dã, entre Zorá e Estaol.
Et l’ Esprit de l’ Éternel commença à l’ agiter à Machané-Dan, entre Tsorea et Eschthaol.
Und der Geist des HERRN fing an, ihn zu treiben im Lager Dan zwischen Zora und Esthaol.
En de Geest des HEEREN begon hem bij wijlen te drijven in het leger van Dan, tussen Zora en tussen Esthaol.
E lo spirito dell’Eterno cominciò ad agitarlo quand’esso era a Mahaneh-Dan, fra Tsorea ed Eshtaol.
I począł go Duch Pański umacniać w obozie Dan między Saraa i między Estaol.
И начал Дух Господень действовать в нем в стане Дановом, между Цорою и Естаолом.
在瑪哈尼‧但，就是 瑣拉 和以實陶 中間，耶和華 的靈 才 感動他。
And the spirit of the Lord first came on him in Mahaneh-dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Judges 13:25
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that this verse marks the first operation of the Spirit on Samson after his birth. The Hebrew verb pa'am (to thrust, impel) signals a forceful, not gentle, action. Keil and Delitzsch note it describes the Spirit taking sudden possession of Samson and compelling him to put forth supernatural powers. Clarke sees it as an inward stirring, a sense of his people's bondage and a desire to deliver them. Barnes and the Cambridge Bible add that the impulse showed itself in both burning indignation and early feats of strength. Matthew Henry calls it evidence that the Lord had blessed Samson, since where God gives blessing he gives his Spirit to qualify for that blessing. The location, Mahaneh Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol, was Samson's home territory, confirming that this initial movement happened in his familiar, everyday setting. All views hold that the Spirit's stirring inaugurated Samson's role as Israel's deliverer, even if the full work would unfold gradually.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Internal moral stirring: Clarke and Jamieson-Fausset-Brown point to the context of Philistine oppression and Samson's growing desire to deliver his people.
- External supernatural empowerment: Barnes and Keil emphasize the verb 'pa'am' (to thrust) and link it to later feats of strength (14:6, 15:14).
- Combined internal and external: Most modern commentaries read the phrase as encompassing both the inner compulsion and the Spirit-given power to act.
What is clear: The Spirit of the Lord began to operate on Samson at this specific location, initiating his role as deliverer, as confirmed by the context of his birth narrative and the following acts.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Nature of the Spirit's movement (pa'am) | All commentators agree the verb indicates a forceful, active impulse from God, not a passive influence. | Clarke and Jamieson-Fausset-Brown emphasize internal patriotic desire; Barnes and Keil emphasize external empowerment for feats of strength. Most modern readings see both elements. |
| Identification of Mahaneh Dan | Mahaneh Dan refers to a location associated with the tribe of Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol. | The Cambridge Bible notes a textual difficulty (some read Manahath-dan) because the Danite camp in 18:12 is placed behind Kiriath Jearim, not in this area. Most commentators accept the traditional reading as a local name. |
| Chronology of Spirit empowerment | The Spirit's action is the beginning of Samson's deliverer role, as stated by the verb 'began'. | Some see 'began' as indicating an ongoing process (Matthew Henry), while others view it as a sudden initial impulse that would be repeated (Keil). |
| Role of Samson's upbringing | God's blessing in verse 24 provides the foundation for the Spirit's stirring. | Matthew Henry stresses the importance of parental faith; other commentators focus entirely on the sovereign Spirit's independent action. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The verse sits at the pivot between Samson's early life and his public ministry. Geographically, Zorah and Eshtaol were towns on the border between Dan and Judah (Joshua 15:33), overlooking the Sorek valley, a region pressed hard by Philistine control. Mahaneh Dan ("camp of Dan") recalls the Danite encampment described in Judges 18:12, located behind Kiriath Jearim. The name probably stuck as a local landmark. By placing Samson's initial stirring in this border territory, the narrative anchors him in a place of tension: his own tribe's land under enemy shadow.
The verb pa'am appears elsewhere with the sense of being disturbed or troubled, Pharaoh's spirit is "troubled" in Genesis 41:8, and the psalmist's soul is "disquieted" in Psalm 77:4. Here it takes a transitive form: the Spirit impels Samson. In the book of Judges, the Spirit is said to "come upon" judges (3:10, 6:34, 11:29) often for a specific military campaign. But this verse uses "began to move", a continuous, initiatory action. Unlike the sudden possession of Othniel or Gideon, the Spirit's work with Samson starts as a gradual stirring, apparently within his home environment and before any recorded conflict.
The location also looks forward: Samson's last resting place is in the tomb of Manoah his father, between Zorah and Eshtaol (16:31). His entire life, from first stirring to final burial, unfolds in this small corridor of land. The Spirit's first movement there signals that God works with specific, grounded geography, not abstract space.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant variant in the Hebrew manuscript tradition for this verse. The KJV adds "at times" (following the Vulgate's et coepit esse cum eo), but the Hebrew pa'am does not include a temporal qualifier. The Cambridge Bible suggests that "Mahaneh-dan" might originally have been "Manahath-dan" (based on 1 Chronicles 2:52,54), but this conjecture lacks manuscript support and is not adopted by other commentators. The received text is stable across editions.
Reception History
Early Christian tradition read this verse as the Spirit's initial equipping of a judge, though Samson's flawed later life often complicated typological interpretation. Matthew Henry (eighteenth century) saw Samson as a type of Christ, the Sun of righteousness, and this stirring as evidence of blessing. Jewish tradition derived Samson's name from shemesh (sun) and connected his birth to the dawning of deliverance. In Puritan preaching, the verse illustrated the Spirit's preparatory work in calling, a hidden stirring before public service. The verb pa'am (to thrust) has been noted by commentators across traditions as conveying the Spirit's forceful, even disruptive, work in beginning a vocation.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Spirit begins in the ordinary. Samson's first stirring happened between two small towns, in the camp of Dan, not in a temple or battlefield. God often starts his work in the everyday places we already occupy.
- The stirring is forceful. Pa'am means to thrust or impel. The Spirit does not suggest; he moves. Samson's call came as an inner driving that would soon show itself in outward action.
- The beginning is not the whole story. The Spirit "began" to move him. What started between Zorah and Eshtaol would take years to unfold. Calling is a process, not a single moment.
Five-point outline
- Preparation precedes employment. Before any victory, the Spirit stirred Samson at home. God often does hidden work before public fruit.
- The Spirit works through both inward desire and outward strength. Commentators note the impulse produced both patriotic longing (Clarke) and feats of power (Barnes). A Spirit-given calling touches the whole person.
- Geography matters. The named locations (Zorah, Eshtaol, Mahaneh Dan) root the story in real land under Philistine pressure. God meets his people in specific places of need.
- Family and calling intersect. Samson lived with his parents (16:31); his mother and father had just received the angel's promise. Their faithfulness created a context for the Spirit to move.
- God's blessing leads to the Spirit's empowering. Verse 24 says "Yahweh blessed him", then verse 25 adds the Spirit's stirring. Blessing is not passive; it activates mission.
Illustration hooks
- A teenager in a small town begins to feel restless about injustice they see, not yet sure what to do, but unable to ignore it.
- The first few bars of a melody that will become a symphony. The stirring is fragmentary, but it contains the whole piece in seed form.
- Someone sitting in their living room, reading news of suffering, and starting to ask "Could I do something about that?", the quiet beginning of a vocation.
Questions your congregation is asking
- How do I know whether a restless feeling is from the Spirit or just my own ambition?
- Does God still stir people to a specific calling, or is that only for Bible heroes?
- What should I do when I sense a stirring but have no clear next step?
Leading a Discussion
This verse captures a quiet but decisive moment: the Spirit of the Lord begins to move Samson in his home region. Before any drama, there is the first stirring. This invites your group to consider how God initiates callings, not always with a bang, sometimes with an inner thrust that grows over time.
Discussion questions
- Read Judges 13:24, 25. What does the narrator tell us about Samson before the Spirit begins to move him?
- The Hebrew verb pa'am means to thrust or impel. How does that affect your understanding of the Spirit's action here?
- Why do you think the writer specifies the location, Mahaneh Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol? What does that add to the story?
- Compare this verse with Judges 3:10, 6:34, and 11:29. In those cases the Spirit "came on" the judge. Here it "began to move" Samson. What might that difference suggest about his calling?
- The commentators disagree on whether the Spirit's movement here was primarily an inner patriotic desire or an outer display of strength. Which side of the debate do you find more compelling, and why?
- In your own life, have you experienced what could be called a "stirring", a persistent sense that God might be calling you toward something? What was that like?
- How can this passage help someone who feels a vague, early pull toward a purpose but is unsure where it leads?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Joshua 15:33 | In the lowland, Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah, |
| Judges 3:10 | Yahweh’s Spirit came on him, and he judged Israel; and he went out to war, and Yahweh delivered Cushan Rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand. His hand prevailed against Cushan Rishathaim. |
| Judges 6:34 | But Yahweh’s Spirit came on Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abiezer was gathered together to follow him. |
| Judges 11:29 | Then Yahweh’s Spirit came on Jephthah, and he passed over Gilead and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpah of Gilead, and from Mizpah of Gilead he passed over to the children of Ammon. |
| Judges 18:11 | The family of the Danites set out from Zorah and Eshtaol with six hundred men armed with weapons of war. |
| Judges 18:12 | They went up and encamped in Kiriath Jearim in Judah. Therefore they call that place Mahaneh Dan to this day. Behold, it is behind Kiriath Jearim. |
| I Samuel 11:6 | God’s Spirit came mightily on Saul when he heard those words, and his anger burned hot. |
| Matthew 4:1 | Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke sees the "moving of the Spirit" not as outward power but as an inner stirring—Samson felt his people’s bondage deeply and gained a godly longing to rescue them. He connects the camp of Dan to Samson’s home, showing that God began shaping him for this work from his youth.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes draws attention to the meaning of the place-name "Mahaneh-Dan," noting that the Spirit's impulses in Samson took the form of burning indignation at Israel's oppression and practical plans for deliverance, most visibly shown through extraordinary feats of physical strength.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva annotators observe that the Spirit began strengthening Samson not in solitude but within the camp of Dan, among the people. This public setting underlines that God's power was visibly at work in the community, preparing Samson for his role as judge and deliverer.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill interprets the Spirit's moving here as a mental striking that injected thoughts into Samson's mind, spurring occasional mighty acts that foreshadowed his future deliverance. He clarifies that the camp of Dan was likely a place name from an earlier event rather than an active military camp, and notes that a deliverer arose from Dan because that tribe suffered most from the Philistines.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB distinguishes Samson's experience from prophetic inspiration: the Spirit moving him was not delivering an inspired message but stirring up a strong, devoted patriotism in his young heart. The note on Eshtaol identifies it as a free city on the border between Judah and Dan.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil and Delitzsch highlight the unusual force of the Spirit's action on Samson, using the Hebrew word for "thrust" to describe a sudden, driving impulse. This is not a gentle leading but a powerful compulsion that pushes Samson into conflict. The verse sets the stage for his entire mission against the Philistines.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange traces Samson's name to shemesh, the sun, seeing the rising sun as a biblical image of victory and the dawn of freedom from oppression. He notes that the Spirit's movement is not an organic work of faith but a sudden, impulsive inspiration that thrusts Samson into heroic public action.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry calls Samson a little sun, linking his name to the word for sun and describing him as a Nazarite, a strong man, and a light to Israel, a type of Christ. He also notes that the Spirit began to move Samson early, evidence that God's blessing was already at work in his youth.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley rejects Matthew Henry's claim that the goodness of God's promised land will intensify the punishment of those who perish. He argues that this reasoning fails under predestination: if some are not elected, they never had a genuine offer, and if all the elect are saved, the grant was never free to the others.